The Nation - News from Dec. 31, 1987

A New Jersey couple who were passengers on an Italian cruise ship hijacked by Palestinian terrorists in 1985 may sue the ship’s owners in their home state rather than in Italy, a federal judge ruled. U.S. District Judge Harold A. Ackerman refused to dismiss a suit brought in federal court in Newark by Frank and Mildred Hodes of Springfield. The Hodes charge that the Achille Lauro, its owners and their American agent violated their obligation under maritime law to provide safe passage and broke their contract with passengers who held tickets on the ill-fated ship. Lawyers for the Italian owners of the Achille Lauro and for Chandris Inc., a Delaware corporation acting as the ship’s agent, argued that the federal courts in New Jersey have no jurisdiction. The ship was hijacked after leaving Egypt Oct. 7, 1985.